Archived press release

Government advisors say nuclear power is "not the answer"

6 March 2006

Friends of the Earth welcomed today's findings by key independent government advisers that nuclear power "is not the answer to tackling climate change or security of supply". The Sustainable Development Commission report, which draws together the most comprehensive evidence base currently available, finds that there is "no justification for bringing forward a new nuclear power programme at present" [1].

Last week Friends of the Earth published new research showing that the UK can meet its electricity needs, reduce the need for imported natural gas, and tackle climate change without building new nuclear reactors [2].

Friends of the Earth's director, Tony Juniper said:

"This rational and dispassionate review of the pros and cons of nuclear power rightly concludes that the disadvantages outweigh the benefits. Tony Blair and his Government must now seize the historic opportunity presented by the energy review to set the UK on course to becoming a world leader in developing a low-carbon, nuclear free economy. "

"Friends of the Earth's research shows that the UK already has the technology to meet our electricity needs, reduce our dependency on imported gas and tackle climate change through energy saving, renewable power and the more efficient use of fossil fuels. The Government must reject calls for new nuclear power plants and invest in a clean, safe and sustainable future."

• Nuclear power produces waste that stays dangerous for tens of thousands of years. A new generation of reactors is likely to lead an increase in high level radioactive waste by a factor of four. The Government still doesn't know what to do with this waste. Britain currently has 470,000 cubic metres of waste enough to fill the Royal Albert Hall five times. The Swiss Government's nuclear waste authority assumes that the safety of the repository for spent fuel and High level radioactive waste has to be guaranteed for at least 1 million years.

• Many processes used as part of nuclear power generation can also be used for covert weapons programmes. If the UK chooses to use nuclear power to cut its greenhouse gas emissions, it will provide an excuse that other countries may use to justify what are really weapons programmes.

• Nuclear is not an `emissions free' solution. The mining and transport of uranium, the making of nuclear fuel rods, the building of nuclear power plants and the storage of nuclear waste all lead to carbon dioxide emissions. Nuclear produces 50% more greenhouse gas emissions than wind power.

• It is currently estimated that the cost of nuclear waste disposal will be around £56 billion, according the Government's Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) which is an increase of £8 billion over previous estimates. The Government's rescue of British Energy in 2003 is expected to cost British tax payers £12 billion over the next 100 years.

• Since 1974 the UK government has spent £6.8 billion in research and development funding for nuclear fission (compared to £540 million for renewables) according to information from the International Energy Agency.

• No nuclear reactor would be able to withstand a direct hit from a 747 crashing into it. George Bush announced that US troops had found plans of US nuclear power stations at al-Qaeda hide-outs in Afghanistan. Research for the European Commission has said that a plane crashing into Sellafield could have an impact 40 times worse than that of the explosion at Chernobyl.

Nuclear power and the energy review (PDF†)

New research shows a bright energy future is possible

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust